Blue is the colour that runs through the Ottoman world – it represents the heavens as well as royalty, and is reflected in the blue hues of Topkapi Palace as well as the famous ceramics of the town of Iznik. At Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay’s Blue Beauties, the colour flourishes amidst more than 30 hydrangea varieties and nearly 3,000 blooms in an immersive floral journey through the Ottoman world.
Blue Beauties is presented in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Singapore and runs until 21 June.
Hydrangeas that are lush, tall and even cone-shaped
This edition of Blue Beauties marks the first time Gardens by the Bay has brought together such a diverse collection of hydrangea varieties in different forms, scales and colours. Complementing the hydrangeas are hollyhocks, dianthus, and lisianthus – plants that echo the layered botanical richness of traditional Ottoman palace gardens.
A journey through the Ottoman world
At the heart of Blue Beauties stands a recreation of the iconic Topkapi Palace – home to Ottoman royalty for nearly four centuries and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. Its walls are richly adorned with motifs inspired by Iznik tiles, the empire’s most celebrated ceramic art, whose signature blue-and-white palette resonates throughout the entire display.
Surrounding the palace, shaded walkways, gently flowing fountains, and pergola-covered pavilions recreate the principles of imperial garden design, where water and symmetry were used to create cool, tranquil retreats from the outside world.
Further along, the bustling Grand Bazaar comes into view – a covered world of trade and commerce that once sat at the crossroads of East and West. Rising from the waters at the edge of the display is the Maiden’s Tower, which carries with it one of the Ottoman world’s most enduring legends – a sultan who built an island tower to protect his daughter from a prophesied snakebite, only for fate to deliver the snake in a basket of fruit on her 18th birthday.
The journey continues beyond the palace walls – to the iconic hot air balloon of Cappadocia, and into the quieter pleasures of Ottoman daily life: the warm glow of traditional lamp art, and the rituals of tea and coffee culture that have defined hospitality across the region for centuries.
You can view the Blue Beauties’ exhibition here
The Blue Beauties is the third and final seasonal floral exhibition at Gardens by the Bay. The first was the Sakura or cherry blossom Festival, followed by Tulipmania.
